Thank you.
Hello and welcome to summer home neighborhood news today is April twenty second and
today is Earth Day I'm one and I'm Andrew McLeod Summerville neighborhood news is
a community service production of scatty put together by staff interns and your
neighbors we bring you the news every two weeks right here on channel three and
also on our Web site Scott T.V.
Summerville dot org Tonight our reporters bring you
a story about how people and organizations are mobilizing to make sure their voices
are heard as plans advance for the Union Square we look at the multicultural fair
of the Somerville high school and you'll head to T.V.
But the high school quizzed him again we've also got
a story about one of the nine new officers who recently joined the police force and
we bring you an in-depth look at the plight of dozens of high school students who
arrived in this country as children but first let's have
a look at some news and upcoming events. Well it's back to the drawing board for
the powerhouse community school property at
a meeting last month city officials announced that they were opening the process up
again we'll be looking into this issue in an upcoming newscast some of those top
models will be hitting the runway on May first come to the art at the Armory one
ninety one Highland I have to attend to beyond the pattern runway presentation
exploring the interface between art and fashion it's part of some of the Open
Studios be young designers challenge this year is a group from the summer of
a high school fashion club the show is free and starts at seven doors open at six
Karlie if you want to be sure to get
a seat in recognition of Earth Day we want to make sure everyone knows about
several recent reports on climate change the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change is
a group of scientists who research and advise the UN on climate change the panel
released
a new report earlier this month with dire warnings the scientists said that the
impacts of human induced climate change are already quote severe pervasive and
irreversible the report can be downloaded at I P C C dot C H another prestigious
Association has also raised the alarm the American Association for the Advancement
of Science just in the
a new campaign to educate people called what we know check out the video and read
or download documentation at what we know Dot A us dot org And here's more
environmental news from closer to home almost one hundred professors at Harvard
recently made their headlines and they signed
a letter demanding that the university purge its endowment of all investments in
oil and coal companies in other words fossil feels Harvard has the largest
university endowments in the country about thirty three billion dollars The Harvard
professors letter came out. The South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu called for
a quote an apartheid style boycott to save the planet and quote writing in The
Guardian newspaper to two said he wanted all governments and institutions to divest
from fossil fuel companies to to was crucial in the anti-apartheid movement in his
country and in the global campaign to get universities and other institutions to
sell their shares in South African companies in his article to two wrote that it is
the responsibility of all people to stop climate change he said quote Who can stop
it well we care to find the article published on April tenth go to the guardian dot
com and search for Tutu and the word climate there are organizations and
individuals right here in Somerville who are already asking the city to sell its
stocks and oil and coal companies to learn more about the campaign at the end of
the program we'll be joined by Shoshana Blanc of Fossil Free Somerville and by Marc
need
a gang Alderman Ward five now to the news every year some sixty five thousand undocumented
youth graduate from high schools in the United States many of them at least
a dozen and maybe many more right here in Somerville reporter Marcello Bruce SR and
news director Jane Regan bring us more eighteen and
a senior. Captain and I think the. Current who have
a three point five U.P.A.
This they're. Recruiting me Merrimac in my floor you must heard
great grades
a star athlete but this Somerville high senior and many others like him doesn't
have the same options as his classmates. He's undocumented I was thirteen when I
came here I had that this faster that Cotard I'll do my homework every
night I was to
a new senior and then I realized that this situation I'm going college is not just
having good grades are being good some for. Michel freight us
had a similar experience in my senior year I kind of hit a little bit of
a desperation point where I didn't know what to do you know I had to plow the
colleges by the know what colleges would take me because I was undocumented there
were no scholarships and little scholarships available to me so I was kind of in
a tough situation the feeling of seeing all my peers around me you know filling out
the FAFSA was just apply getting the driver's license and getting all these amazing
jobs it was horrible I remember that I would get home and I would break down I
would break down into tears because I had worked my whole life you know studied
hard work hard to achieve something once graduation came around and it was kind of
like all the doors of the world were so the shot to me you know. Every year sixty
five thousand undocumented youth graduate from high schools across the country in
Somerville the number might be
a dozen but it might be much higher students are not obligated to disclose their
status undocumented students are not eligible for most grants or financial aid or
even in-state tuition. School counselor and Hertzberg tries to help those she can
one of the hardest things I see every year are students who have done everything
right in high school they've taken the right classes they've tried they've excelled
they've week out in the community got involved but it captains of sports teams
started new activities kind of everything that you would hope
a student would do in the U.S.
High school sort of for your experience and because of their status here Their I'm
able to find
a place that will accept them and will give them the financial support that they
need to be able to attend a four year college especially. Part of my job as
a guidance counselor is helping all of my students apply for college so when I
start talking to my students especially in the junior year and beginning of senior
year. Where I have to let them know that the college application process and
especially the financial aid process is very different depending on their status in
the U.S. You need to ask them to resend it to you. As an immigrant myself and as
a counsellor it's hard for me to not believe in the American dream that students
can be here and be successful and work hard and achieve and every time they see
them doing everything that they need to be doing and not able to get that last that
last step of getting that diploma and getting with the you know the recognition the
success this cautious whatever that they deserve it really really breaks my heart I
go to bed every night Think about it from. Me crying and then choose the why and I
do the like talking about it because I don't want to hurt my parents the they have
been working for hard for me through then college students brought to the United
States before two thousand and seven can apply for DACA which means Deferred Action
for Childhood Arrivals DACA recipients get
a work permit and access to some financial aid Somerville has
a large number of students that do qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals the students did have to be in the country prior to June fifteenth two
thousand and seven so for the students that I work with the vast majority actually
came after that date but in the city of Somerville and some of the high school we
have many students are qualified I probably had about ten students that qualified
but many did not I arrived in the defeat in January twenty seventh two thousand and
four zero zero zero zero zero two years early. Students like the soccer player are
in limbo if it passes the DREAM Act would provide some relief. Congressman Michael
Kaplan Outbacks that there are that I am supporter of the DREAM Act But I am
a supporter of the DREAM Act pending passage of comprehensive immigration reform if
and when we can ever get to
a decent comprehensive immigration reform I'm hoping that the dream act of there no
longer be necessary I look at it as a temporary necessity as
a bridge to where we really want to be look I mean you can make an argument every
day of the week as though about adults who may or may have come here illegally
usually stayed here illegally and that's fine that's one part of this question I
just don't think it's
a valid part of the discussion to include children who really didn't choose their
life they're tending in limbo and I think they're wasting their future not in what
they are we are wasting their future on their behalf I think it's
a terrible tragedy. We we were born here basically I mean we may have
been born in another country but we are basically Americans where I don't see any
of the life of of them living in the United States where all my culture has been
Americanised than you know the way I speak has been American as we're Americans and
we want to make this country great we want to work and you know contribute to our
society here. Michel free to us was lucky he got his green card at the last minute
and was able to attend college today he works at
a bank but the soccer player isn't so lucky he might go back to Brazil or maybe
attend community college if he can afford it intil comprehensive immigration reform
passes tens of thousands of kids just like the soccer player who grew up right here
in the United States are stuck in limbo reporting for
a Somerville neighborhood news and with the help of Marcello bro Sr I'm Jane Regan
it's tragic and I really wonder how long it's going to take for an immigration
reform to be passed I have no idea but Congressman couple want to urge that
everyone who can vote to vote in every election next here's
a story I did about the Summerville High School quiz team remember how earlier this
winter the team beat out Nantucket high school well that when put them into the
quarter finals the Somerville high school students returned to W.G.
Ph in February for the next round of the quiz show this match
against Sharon high school is the first time some of the high has ever gotten to
the quarter finals. Well I'm excited but I'm
a little bit nervous because I think it's going to be able to. Be. This team has
already won their first round still lives. There still they've got some still.
Yet I think a place literally himself or one of them could interfere with
a microphone some of the same in either case see.
The day quarter final match up Somerville high school we've got so mean Miles
Graham and John let's hear it first summer after.
The to see who won turn in on Saturday April twenty sixth at six P.M.
On W G B H Channel two for more information check out high school quiz show dot org
This next story is also from you write him that's right and I had the privilege of
spending time with some of Somerville's finest. Last November the Somerville Police
Department at nine you officers to its rank Deputy Chief Michael Kopper all took
part in the interview process for the new recruits it a verse they speak
a second language most of them there's
a lot of camaraderie that occurred in the police academy but since they've come on
the street now they've really devolved into
a fine young offices they'll have promising career is it's really
a breath of fresh air when you get new police officers they're really dedicated to
this group of nine probably some of our best highest one of the new hires is the
Portuguese woman Cassandra comes out of it we actually had about five or six
different female candidates in the group which we thought was fantastic because
there was
a largest group of female candidates because Souter was actually the only one that
made it through the entire process and that's. Volumes were ten per cent to choose
she would you carry and long queues Cademy too little to do so.
We graduated in November fifteenth. Better. And we've been in patrols
ever since we did two months of field training and now we're all on our own with. A
courier. For hardships and sometimes their prejudices you know sometimes people
think that no female officer can do with
a mill themselves or can do what you want to SAGAL have to deal with those issues
just like anybody else and I can tell you that you're representing with proper that
she's the type of person who's respectful she's honest to have
a very polite so I don't assume that's you know that like oh I was basically the
first generation. Of my family to be here in United States to be born here. And you
know coming here from
a different country and essentially starting all over and building
a family is as tough and for them you know they did in my opinion and I in another
lot of other people's opinions I would say that they did very well you know they
put me through school they come into college and they have I've had
a roof over my head and put on the table.
For
a female female as unresponsive and we got on the scene and once you leave that
call you don't know what has happened that person so you know they put her in the
end months to this day I don't know if she survived or as she passed away. That
someone's grandmother that someone's mother that someone's wife and need to seen
you know her husband standing there next to her you know he's kind of helpless and
that's just one of those moments where you're like wow you know. The hardest part
is just not knowing what happened to her. Doesn't matter what day doesn't matter
what time doesn't matter what you have doesn't matter really where you are as
a police officer your life is in danger at all times. It doesn't matter really
matter if you're on the day shift on and on a midnight shift it's
a dangerous profession and take special people to be police officers. There G.-O.
Way there's no. Bus here or are basically wanting to be that person on.
Earth something goes wrong you're the person that responds You're the person that
you know people. Just always something that I know I've won and I can't really
pinpoint a reason or give you
a time frame of when I really just dawned on me that I wanted to do it but it's
just one of those gut feelings where you just know that this is what you want to do
and that's only about it that's the only way that I can really explain why
a chose to do it. A story we were sworn in as
a police officer this offseason we took on all of that we were going to serve the
community service people. Some will today is safer than it's ever been crime is at
an all time low so much change it's a very exciting city so
a lot going on the police promise is just one part of the success of what song was
all about today. The nine new officers are hoping to play their part in building
a safer future for the city for Somerville neighborhood News I'm Emily and. That
was great. No let's go to the Somerville journal to see what's in next week's paper
.
Lou this week in the Somerville Journal we'll have the latest on the former
Somerville teacher accused of trafficking child pornography we'll have
a closer look at the stricter ethics ordinance proposed by Mayor Joe Carollo Tony
will have full coverage of the Patriots' Day celebration you can always check it
out online it with
a book called dot com slash Summerville and follow us at Ville journal and you can
get in touch with me at six one seven six two nine three three eight five or D
Atkinson at wicked vocal dot com Here's
a story about all the news outlets have been following the Union Square
redevelopment some people are nervous that the process is moving too quickly and
that residents and locally owned businesses might be left behind. Some business
owners have been circulating a petition asking for
a seat at the table. Tell
us what's going on. Leave everything blank. Last minute like that they would have.
I think the first thing we're asking for is
a meeting with the city to discuss concerns. And I think it's useful that we're
getting together to start the conversation with each other. A group of unions where
residents are also hoping to influence the process. And at an April ninth meeting
a collection of groups led by the Somerville Community Corporation presented the
community advisory committee with
a document they call equity standards Tonight we are really excited to present.
Our equity standards which is a document we've worked on for the last year with
a partner. We think that this document can be really valuable as you
consider your as you consider the different bidders for the Union Square
redevelopment proposal the document suggest guidelines for things like the number
of local jobs affordable housing units and amount of open space. We heard from
a lot of business owners and local residents that they are not aware of what's
going on and that when they did hear about the redevelopment project in process
they think it's moving too quickly we want to make sure that as our city changes
it's changing in equitable manner ward to Alderman Marion Houston was also present
where the rub is going to meet the road is once somebody is chosen what the process
really for me will begin and then we'll be working with whoever is chosen to make
sure that you know. The important the things that are important to people in this
community get recognised and respect. It and worked and I'm not saying I'm against
developed and I'm absolutely not in fact I'm very excited about this this is I've
waited for this my whole life I've grown grew up here and I can't wait to see what
will happen but I also can't wait to see how we can influence what will happen and
that's the important piece as the older and said the rubber will meet the road once
the master developer is chosen and that's when the participation transparency and
equity being asked for by the residents and the small business owners will be
crucial will those equity standards be met Will small business owners get
a seat at the table we'll be watching for Somerville neighborhood news I'm Jane
Reagan our last story is from Somerville high school student reporter Marcello bro
senior He recently attended the school's multicultural fair.
Want to welcome everybody to our sixteen and you know signature here it is
a day of celebration rolled in the school really come together and share their food
their culture their dancing music and appreciate each other with very much here
that we have that opportunity now know that many cities too but we have. Just about
every country we have forty countries represented of those forty countries nine
countries along with Latin America perform dance routines choreographed by the
students it was a culmination of
a lot of afterschool practice. That
. I think that this might be
because he shared with everyone else I think
a little piece of my culture and my heart that theory thing the culture because I
never feel you know cut it. Let me nuts. Good.
To see.
The students bring in
a pair of jeans and they bring the food here making it with beer here and it
cooking together as
a family and this morning when I came in all these families came in the parents the
father the mother and they all came in for the food that world that assurance today
and so it's one big famous one big dinner republish sharing the food while we have
some entertainment on the side but our way of celebrating who we are.
All we need to do is it is to let people see that there are other people in the
world and these other cultures and food taste taste you know that's why it's so
important to taste everything you know and you know even if you don't like it but
you want appreciate that country even more when you like their food right but so I
think it's very important to get a lot out of it's great education to do that it's
a great way they don't even know they're learning problems but they are here
because the tables also have information about each country so that soon serious
questions we're learning about their country and chasing limited movement and
watching it together I. There's no better way to
celebrate the diversity at some price great thing great food great performances one
of the summer neighborhood news I'm our sober she was last in honor of Earth Day we
decided to take
a closer look at the campaign to divest the city employees pension funds of all
fossil fuel investments showing up Blake a fossil for use. And Mark need
a game Alderman award for joints news director Jane Regan thank you very much for
coming to the studio today Shoshanna maybe you can tell us
a little bit about the organization Fossil Free Somerville started over
a year ago when
a bunch of climate change activists in the area realized that this national
campaign for fossil fuel divestment was happening at universities and colleges it's
actually International and also that it was starting to happen in cities and we
decided that summer will be the perfect place to start
a campaign. Climate change is the most devastating issue that our world faces right
now and we all feel that Somerville can do its part to say we don't stand for this
and we're not going to put our money in these companies that are caught essentially
causing climate change with their dirty fossil fuels we were talking
a little bit before the interview about the anti-apartheid movement and that
divestment movement and didn't you say that that Massachusetts had
a role in that divestment movement also yes actually Massachusetts with the first
state in the country to divest its pension fund from South Africa and soon you
know few years after when Nelson Mandela came to the U.S.
He stopped in Massachusetts right away and I think. And how is that divestment
movement going for the fossil fuels so over twenty municipalities in the country
have decided to divest San Francisco Seattle even Cambridge
a Cambridge Massachusetts very city council has voted on it and actually five of
those cities are in Massachusetts so it's going pretty well Mark I know that you
and many other Alderman have said that you agree in principle with this and I think
also the mayor America Tony has said that he agrees in principle with divestment So
how's it going up at city hall so an interesting situation. The actual decider in
Somerville is
a five person retirement board that oversees the pension fund is his investments so
the mayor. Board of Aldermen has no official influence on this we may have some
moral influence by speaking out and so we received
a petition from one hundred twenty nine residents that fossil fuel summer will
organize these people asking for
a public hearing and asking that the Board of Aldermen pass
a resolution urging the retirement board to divest from fossil fuel investments.
Before we could discuss it we were told by the city solicitor who had asked the
state ethics commission that we were not allowed to discuss it and not allowed to
take any formal action as
a board despite the fact that other cities have already done this they didn't
bother to ask the state ethics commission so we have this opinion from the state
ethics commission and we are considering what to do i know i would you know I
support divestment I think most of my colleagues and not all of my colleagues do as
well but we are now faced with
a legal opinion that were not for conflict of interest reasons that to be honest
don't really make
a lot of sense to me but that's what we've been told by the state ethics commission
because of these conflicts of interest interest reasons we cannot act as
a board so we're now considering our options waiting for more information about
what this means exactly what if we defied the state ethics commission there we
could do be reprimands fines we want to consider that and then decide what to do
who is the retirement board and hope picks them there are two members that are
elected by all the retiree's in the pit all the people in the pension fund there's
a pointy of the mayor and the finance director Ed being is on it I'll put you on
the spot
a little bit and I'll ask you either as an individual or as an alderman What do you
think this city should do and what do you feel about divestment and climate change
I know you wrote you by care didn't you Yeah well I think that divestment from
investments in fossil fuel use fuels is the only sane thing to do it's both
ethically and financially and economically the intelligent and right thing to do I
think these are bad investments that are likely to tank and that's bad for our
retirees as well as the fact that you know carbon is failing our atmosphere and
will eventually destroy the planet so to me it's
a no brainer and I'm going to speak out as much as I can on this I've already asked
the city solicitor for an opinion on whether. As an individual Alderman I can lobby
the pension the retirement board send letters speak publicly cetera I just want to
check before I do so the mayor already said in his inauguration speech that he
supported it so I assume that it's fine if he did it but I'm waiting for that
opinion and then I'll do everything I can to push for this you can find out more
about the some of the campaign at Fossil Free Summerville dot org Well that wraps
up this newscast thanks for joining us we'll be back on May sixth but don't just
tune in once every two weeks check us out on Facebook and share your favorite
segment or send
a tweet that's Skapti V S and we welcome you to get involved with some of L.
Neighborhood news what's happening on your block who is your neighborhood hero what
issues aren't being covered become more porter or send in your ideas call the Scott
T.V.
Studio at six one seven six two eight eight two six or right two news at Scott
T.V.
Summerville dot org I'm Lynn and I'm Andrew McLeod see you around the neighborhood
.